Welcome
Wiss-Nama Newsletter April 2026
News from Indo-German cooperation
DAAD shifts Indian focus beyond student mobility
In an interview with the PIE News DAAD Director, Arthur Rapp, mentioned that DAAD is shifting its India strategy from focusing primarily on student mobility to fostering long-term, institutional collaboration, as reflected in initiatives like the Indo-German Comprehensive Roadmap on Higher Education, launched during the visit of the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to India in January 2026, and programs such as SPARC-GIANT, which connect Indian and German universities in joint research on sustainability, healthcare, Industry 4.0, and semiconductors. While over 60,000 Indian students study in Germany, DAAD emphasizes strategic partnerships, capacity building, and inclusive participation across India’s diverse higher education landscape, rather than establishing foreign campuses. German universities’ state-funded, non-profit model makes collaboration more practical than expansion abroad, while efforts continue to promote balanced mobility, engaging more German students in India and supporting institutions beyond top-tier universities. By combining Germany’s research strengths with India’s scale and dynamism, DAAD aims to address global challenges, enhance two-way mobility, and strengthen long-term academic and workforce connections between the countries.
Upcoming events and conferences
Indo-German Research Day
DWIH New Delhi is organising a virtual Indo-German Research Day on May 29, where participants will delve deeper into the research landscapes of India and Germany, and engage in discussions about global research collaboration and policies. They can connect with research institutions, universities, funding organizations, and international agencies to uncover mobility funding opportunities for their research visits and projects across various fields. It will help to broaden your network to advance your research career and foster international partnerships in research.
Registrations will open soon.
DWIH Network Day
On June 26, connect with representatives from the German Centres for Research and Innovation (DWIH) in India, the USA, Brazil, and Japan, and gain valuable insights into the vibrant research and innovation ecosystems of these countries, as well as DWIH's initiatives. Learn about the services provided by DWIHs and how your institution can become part of this global network. In the interactive World Café format, engage in detailed one-on-one discussions with DWIH representatives, exploring potential collaboration opportunities for your institution or researchers.
Innovators Connect – Tandem 2026
Innovators Connect – Tandem is a two-week immersive program designed for young researchers and early-stage start-up founders from India and Germany from November 16-26. Organized by DWIH New Delhi, the program includes workshops, mentoring, networking, and intercultural training, offering participants exposure to start-up ecosystems in both countries. 30 selected participants will collaborate in teams to develop innovative ideas and technologies, receiving support from partner incubators in India and Germany.
Call for applications will open soon.
DAAD Events
Bangalore: Higher Studies and Research in Germany
Students will be guided about pursuing Bachelor, Master & PhD in Germany, eligibility criteria, types of universities, application procedure, visa procedures, scholarships etc. Get your questions answered too.
April 30, 3:00 PM, DAAD Information Centre Bangalore, Indo German Chamber of Commerce 403 Shah Sultan, 4th Floor, Cunningham Road, Bengaluru 560052
Web Session: Masters in Germany
Join this web session to know more about doing a Masters in Germany and get your questions answered too.
May 5, 4:00 PM, Online
Web Session: Bachelors in Germany
Join this web session to know more about doing a Bachelors in Germany and get your questions answered too.
May 14, 4:00 PM, Online
Online Session with German Universities
Learn more about study opportunities in Germany and interact with representatives of Europa-Universität Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder), Hochschule RheinMain and HS Coburg.
May 20, 3:00 PM, Online
Web Session: A Day in My Life as a Student in Germany
Listen to and connect with the DAAD Young Ambassadors Rijak Singh Malhotra, Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule (OTH) Regensburg, Sakshi Selvanathan, Master student at FH Osnabrueck and Sobhagya Mittal, PhD student at School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), New Delhi, as they talk about their day-to-day life in Germany.
May 21, 4:00 PM, Online
Web Session: PhD in Germany
Join this web session to know more about doing a PhD in Germany and get your questions answered too.
May 27, 4:00 PM, Online
Calls for proposals
20 Senior Fellowship Positions at College for Social Sciences and Humanities
College for Social Sciences and Humanities is offering up to 20 Senior Fellowships at the aimed at excellent international scholars in the social sciences and humanities. The fellowship provides an opportunity for established researchers to undertake an interdisciplinary research stay in Essen, collaborating with the University Alliance Ruhr. Applicants must propose a joint research project with a “tandem partner” from a UA Ruhr institution. The fellowship, lasting six months, will host up to ten fellows each intake period, with stays beginning in March and September 2027. Eligibility includes a PhD, recognition as an international scholar, and excellent academic achievements. Selection will be based on research excellence, project quality, and the potential for interdisciplinary collaboration. Fellows will engage in academic exchange, contribute to the UA Ruhr network, and work on independent research projects.
Application deadline: May 15, 2026
MSCA opens €399 million call for Postdoctoral Fellowships
The 2026 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships, part of Horizon Europe, opened with a €399.05 million budget, offering around 1,600 fellowships to support postdoctoral researchers worldwide in advancing their careers through international mobility and interdisciplinary research. Open to all research fields, including Euratom-related areas, the programme offers European Fellowships (up to 24 months in an EU or associated country) and Global Fellowships (12–24 months abroad plus a 12-month return phase in Europe). Fellows can undertake optional non-academic placements, access ERA Fellowships, and receive special support for returning, displaced, or career-restarting researchers. Applicants must hold a PhD, have up to 8 years post-PhD experience, and apply with a supervisor and host organisation, which can include universities, research institutions, companies, NGOs, hospitals, or government bodies.
Application deadline: September 9, 2026
5th Call for Dioscuri Centres of Scientific Excellence in Poland
The Max Planck Society (MPG) and the Polish National Science Centre (NCN) have launched their fifth call for Dioscuri Centres of Scientific Excellence in Poland, seeking to establish up to two interdisciplinary Centres in the Humanities and Social Sciences, Life Sciences, or Physical Sciences and Engineering. Each Centre is built around a distinguished researcher who will lead a high-profile research group funded with up to €300,000 annually for five years at a Polish university or institute with strong infrastructure and long-term support. The Centres will collaborate with a German partner, potentially from a Max Planck Institute, and receive guidance from an international Scientific Advisory Board. Funded by the Polish Ministry of Education and Science, the programme aims to enhance scientific excellence in Central and Eastern Europe.
Application deadline: September 15, 2026
Did you know?
38.4% of people aged 25 to 34 years have a university degree in Germany. 41.0% of the female population in this age group and 36.1% of the male population in this age group.